Five decades after launching his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky, his alma mater, veteran coach Romeo Crennel has retired.
The former Texans' interim head coach, defensive coordinator and associate head coach and head coach of the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs announced his retirement Monday morning.
“Football has been my entire life and it’s been a dream come true to coach for 50 years,” Crennel said in a statement. “There are so many friends to thank who have helped me and supported me throughout my career. I especially want to thank the fans and owners of the New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans for allowing me to contribute to the game that I have loved so much for so long. I’ll miss everything about coaching and teaching, but the thing I’ll miss the most is being around the guys every day.
"My goal was to put every player and coach in the best position to succeed and I consider every guy I coached or worked with a part of my family. I would also want to thank my wife Rosemary and my three daughters, Lisa, Tiffany and Kristine, for all of their support over the years. Because of their love and selflessness, I have been able to live out my dream. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to spend more time with my grandchildren while staying around the game of football.”
Crennel won five of six Super Bowls he participated in, earning championships twice with the New York Giants and three times with the New England Patriots. He was a part of 17 playoff teams, 13 division winners and six conference titles. He won a lifetime achievement award for his work as an assistant coach in 2020 from the Pro Football Writers of America.
He was with the Texans for the past eight years. In 2020, he became the oldest person in NFL history to serve as a head coach in a game, breaking a record previously held by NFL co-founder and Chicago Bears coach/owner George Halas.
Crennel was previously a defensive coordinator with the Patriots. He was a four-year starter at Western Kentucky as a defensive lineman and earned team captain and MVP honors.
“My family and the entire Houston Texans organization would like to congratulate Romeo Crennel on his historic coaching career,” Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair said. “After 50 seasons, Romeo retires as one of the most respected figures in NFL history. His incredible resume and contributions to the game of football will be difficult to duplicate. Romeo poured everything he had into his players and led his teams with hard work, diligence and integrity. He has impacted and influenced so many players, coaches and staff members over the last five decades and we’re honored he spent the last eight seasons with us. Our organization is better because of Romeo Crennel in so many ways. He will always be a Texan and we wish him, his wife Rosemary and his family nothing but the best in all that retirement brings.”
Aaron Wilson is a Pro Football Network reporter and analyst and a contributor to Sports Talk 790.